Letter: History buff weighs in on Byers' column

I truly enjoyed reading Michele Byers' article, "New Jersey is a state full of 'Firsts.'"

I share her pride as she promotes the many "First" contributions our state has made across a wide range of venues. I will, however, like to bring to your attention that one of the "Firsts" she claims may have been made in error.

The first submarine was actually launched in Charleston, S.C. in July of 1863 by the Confederacy during the civil war and not in the Passaic River in 1878. The H.L. Hunley was named after her inventor, Horace Lawson Hunley, The Hunley, after several disastrous attempts in which it sunk and all crew members, including its inventor, were killed, finally set out the night of Feb. 17, 1864, and successfully sank a battleship, the USS Housatonic, that was on Union blockade duty. Following the attack, the Hunley sank in deep water and the crew and the ship were lost until 1995 when it was recovered. It is now on display in Charleston.

A second issue has to do with the Wizard of Menlo Park, Thomas Alva Edison. His laboratory was actually located in West Orange. The world's "first" film production studio and theater 'Black Maria," as well as the home of many of his inventions, i.e., the phonograph, electricity, cement, to name a few, took place in West Orange. Did you also know that the first town in the Nation to experience electricity was Roselle in Union County in 1883? Thomas Edison lived in the "Glenmont" in the private enclave of Llewellyn Park located in West Orange from 1886 until his death in 1931. His laboratory complex and the Glenmont Estate are open to the public and well worth the short trip to West Orange.

And after a visit, take in the best pizza, although not the "first" you will ever have, at the famous Star Tavern, 400 High St. in Orange, on the way home!

Ted D'Alessio

Athletic Director

Millburn Township Public School District

Editor's note: Contacted by The Item, Sandy Perry, communications manager for the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, made the point that while the Hunley may have been the first submarine, it was a human-powered vessel. Michele Byer's column last week referred to John Holland's submarine, launched 14 years later in the Passaic River, which was the first to be powered by an internal combustion engine and battery.